A tearful David Beckham has received a standing ovation after playing what is almost certainly his final game as a professional footballer.

The retiring midfielder captained Paris St-Germain in the team's 3-1 victory over Brest in Paris and was tossed in the air by the PSG players after the final whistle, declaring that the send-off "couldn't have been any more perfect".

There is an outside chance he will feature at Lorient next Sunday, but the 38-year-old made an emotional exit in the 82nd minute, hugging most of his team-mates before making way for Ezequiel Lavezzi.

He told Sky Sports News: "Tonight was a nice way to go out - in front of my own fans, in front of a capacity crowd that were excited because we've won the league. The celebrations have been incredible, so it's a nice way to walk off the pitch."

Image Caption:Beckham was tossed in the air by teammates after the final whistle

"To go out like I did tonight couldn't have been any more perfect."

Asked whether he could feature next weekend, he replied: "We'll see. There's a plastic pitch next weekend. I ruptured my Achilles a few years ago, so it's not great for it. Like I said, tonight was very special.

"I'll be part of the team next week. Whether I play or not, who knows?"

PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi suggested the match would be Beckham's last, telling journalists: "It's up to the coach, but basically, I think that will be the last match for him."

Beckham said he was particularly touched by the honour of skippering the team and would be forever grateful.

He said: "That started my emotions kicking in earlier today, when the manager called me in and said 'we've spoken to the players, it's the players' idea - we want to make you captain."

"It's really special for an Englishman to be captain of PSG - especially on a night that meant so much to the club and the players. It was an amazing gesture and one I'll always be thankful for."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic threatened to overshadow the former Manchester United man's night with a brace in between Blaise Matuidi's strike in the first half, but it was clear that the evening belonged to Beckham.

On his tearful farewell to the players before leaving the field, he continued: "It (the emotion) started 20 minutes before then. It was hard to run, let alone kick a ball.

"It was an emotional night. To see the reaction of the players, of the fans, when I came off was special."

PSG clinched their first Ligue 1 title in 19 years following a 1-0 win at Lyon last weekend.

It meant Beckham, who joined PSG in the winter on a short-term deal, has won league titles in four different countries - England, Spain, the US and France.